18th century atlas charted to realise £12k

Matthaus Seutter was one of the best and most prolific cartographers of the 18th century.

He had originally intended to be a brewer, but quit his apprenticeship to become an engraver in Nuremberg under the tutelage of the great J B Homann.

Matthaus Seutter map of Europe from his Atlas

Seutter's talent and enthusiasm for maps and publishing gained him a following, and he was eventually honoured by German Emperor Charles VI with the title of Imperial Geographer.

Now, one of Seutter's works has come up for the travel section of the sale at Dominic Winter's auction of Printed Books & Maps.

Map of Asia from Seutter's Atlas

Atlas Novus sive Tabulae Geographicae was published in 1740, and is interesting as a historical document, since the view of Europe is very similar at a glance to a modern map, whilst Africa and Asia are not.

The book is a little rubbed on the outside, but the hand-coloured maps remain spectacular. The sale will take place on January 27 in Gloucester.